POWER CART OPERATION

Operation of a golf cart is at the risk of the operator. The operator will be held fully responsible for any and all damages that occur while in his or her custody.

Golf cart operators must be at least 18 years of age with a valid driver’s license and must obey all cart traffic rules and directional efforts.

Golf carts must not be driven within 30 feet of any green or a tee except when using designated cart paths. These areas are especially susceptible to damage by the wheels of golf carts and compaction which can result in damaged chipping and pitching areas.

For the safety of those using a power cart on course, carts must not be taken onto the sloped areas around greens, fairways, or hazards at any time.

Golf carts are to be driven on healthy turf whenever possible and must not be driven in any soft, saturated areas or on any dormant grass during dry season.

Golf carts must remain on paths wherever provided, especially near tees and greens. When parking, all cart users are expected to keep all four wheels on said path. The excess wear and tear caused by not adhering to this practice is becoming very evident throughout our golf course.

All players are required to remain on designated cart paths only on all par 3 holes. Fairway or rough access is prohibited.

The Superintendent reserves the right to close the golf course to all power cart access when adverse weather and/or overly saturated conditions may endanger the well being of our customers or cause undue damage to turf conditions.

Golf cart operation that disobeys the above rules or potentially causes damage to the course will be dealt with in the following manner. Verbal warning followed by suspension of cart privileges to offender.

HANDICAP ‘BLUE FLAG’ CART OPERATIONS

The Balfour Golf Course recognizes that certain individuals with physical limitations require some relaxation of normal cart use rules in order to allow them to enjoy their round of golf through improved access in order to minimize physical demand and maintain an appropriate pace of play.

At the same time, blue flags do not provide unlimited access to the golf course and it is expected that users understand the potential damage created by power carts and the resulting requirement for additional maintenance. The following rules apply to anyone who has received authorization for use of a blue flag:

Blue flags must be picked up and returned to the golf shop before and after each use.

Blue flag access is granted to the physically limited individual only and does not extend to anyone who may be riding with said person.

Blue Flags allow power carts to park within 30 feet but no closer than 15 feet of any green where easier access may be provided

Blue Flags do not allow power carts to:

Go beyond any roped off or power cart restricted areas or past any directional signage

The use of a blue flag is a privilege not a right and respect for the golf course is expected at all times. Failure to adhere to above rules may result in revocation of blue flag privileges.

PERSONAL POWER CARTS

As of 2018, seasonal use of a privately owned power cart will no longer be an option. Private power cart owners who have had their personal cart in use during the previous season will be granted continued access until the time that they opt to no longer pay their trackage fee at which point the privilege will no longer be extended.

Only the registered owner and one other person to be named on the Private Power Cart Registration form shall be permitted to operate the power cart. Anyone else wishing to use said power cart will be subject to a daily trackage fee.

In order to avoid unnecessary wear of turf conditions, no more than two power carts per foursome will be permitted on the golf course at any given time. Please make arrangements within your group to pair up when more than two power carts are present.

Travel to and from the cart storage area to the club house/first tee across the golf course is no longer acceptable. All private power carts must now use the path paralleling Queens Bay Rd. and our main driveway for travel to and from cart storage and club house. Failure to comply with this rule may result in loss of privileges.

All personally owned power carts remaining at the club house following play must now be parked in the designated area parking area. Parking in front of the club house by the main entrance is no longer acceptable.

PULL CART USE

Pull carts are not permitted on tees, to be pulled across tees and greens, green aprons or between greens and bunkers.

PACE OF PLAY

Playing at a better pace is not about hurrying up or rushing around the course. It is simply about being more efficient with your valuable time, as well as everyone else’s. Adopting this mindset – and not being afraid to share it with your fellow players – will ultimately add enjoyment to your golf experience.

The pace of play expectation for a group of four golfers playing the Balfour Golf Course is two hours and ten minutes per nine or four hours and twenty minutes for 18 holes. It should be noted that this is a maximum and that it is clearly possible to play in less time

Keep up with the group in front of you. The correct position on the course is immediately behind the group in front of you, not immediately in front of the group behind you. Arrive at your next shot just before the group in front leaves the area in front of you. If you are consistently not able to keep up and a gap opens in front of you, invite the group behind you to play through, irrespective of the number of players in the group.

Be efficient on the putting green. Mark your ball and lift and clean it when you arrive at the putting green so you will be ready to replace it when it is your turn to play. You can usually line up your putt while others are putting, without disturbing them. Leave your clubs on the side of the putting green closest to the next tee, and leave the green promptly after holing out. Wait until the next tee to record your score.

Be ready to play as soon as it is your turn to play. Do all of your prep work while your playing partners are hitting their shots. Get your yardage, pick your club and set your plan for your next shot and as soon as you hear them make contact with their golf ball start your pre shot routine.

Play ready golf. Tradition states that if you are the farthest from the hole, it is your turn to play next. This idea should hold true throughout most of your round however, in instances where you are ready to play and the playing partner furthest from the hole is not, hit your shot and playing ready golf.

Tee it forward. If you are unable to consistently reach the green in regulation and there is a set of tee’s available in front of you, tee it forward! Your enjoyment level will increase with shorter iron shots into greens and more birdie putts while at the same time improving your pace of play and quite possibly lowering your scores.